Michigan woman sentenced in 2013 death of newborn daughter

LANSING, Mich. – A Lansing-area woman has been sentenced to 27½ to 40 years in prison in the 2013 death of her newborn daughter who was found face-down in a wastebasket with umbilical cord and placenta still attached.

The Lansing State Journal reports (http://on.lsj.com/22u2HHn ) that 26-year-old Melissa Mitin of Okemos learned her punishment Wednesday. She pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Authorities also have been investigating the 2014 disappearance of Mitin's baby boy, who is presumed dead. Prosecutors have said the boy was born while Mitin was free on bond after being charged with first-degree murder in her daughter's death. As part of her plea agreement, Mitin will not be charged in her son's disappearance.